While video games can offer a fun means to escape reality, not all of them are relaxing. From hardcore boss fights to competitive online experiences, some games are designed to keep players on their toes with everything on the line.

Thankfully though, there are plenty of games out there made solely for relaxing. These titles allow players to go at their own pace, while blissful visuals and soundtracks comfort both the eyes and ears. Some relaxing games have a story to follow, while others simply let players explore or wander, sometimes even without a purpose. All that matters, is that players are able to lie back and turn their brains off, distracting themselves, at least momentarily, from the outside world.

Updated January 9, 2024, by Joe Grantham: Due to the success of titles such as Minecraft and Stardew Valley, relaxing video games are a mainstay in the gaming world, offering players a tranquil break from studies, work, or more competitive games. With both indie developers and big-name companies weighing in on the genre, new relaxing experiences are constantly drawing players into their cozy, stress-free worlds. The most relaxing video games manage to find the perfect balance between not overwhelming players, and engaging them enough so that they are distracted from the outside world. Many of these relaxing games can be played in the background, perhaps while listening to an audiobook or podcast.

1 Astroneer

Metascore: 71

Released in 2019, Astroneer is a sandbox adventure game about colonizing planets. There is no storyline or set goal, but every planet has unique challenges for the player. The game is available on the PC, Xbox One, PS4, and the Nintendo Switch. The player controls an astronaut and can craft items and reshape terrain.

The game won awards for Best Art Direction, Best Visual Design, Best User Experience, and Best Game Design at the 2019 Webby Awards.

2 Everything

Metascore: 80

Available on Steam, the Nintendo Switch, and the PS4, Everything is a simulation game where the player can, quite literally, take on the role of everything. They can be a plant, animal, rock, bug, planet, star system, landmass, or even a micro-organism. There is no story, but the player can complete the encyclopedia by taking on the role of everything that there is.

Throughout the game, the player also collects recordings of quotes from philosopher Alan Watts. Thus, players can listen to Watts discuss Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu philosophy while roaming around the world, a combination that is rather relaxing.

3 flOw

Metascore: 71

Available on many PlayStation consoles and as a browser game, flOw is a tranquil experience made by Thatgamecompany, a company famous for creating some of the most relaxing games out there. Their game design philosophy is to invoke feelings rather than focus on a message.

flOw has its player take the role of a worm-like creature that swims and eats organisms smaller than itself. Part of what makes it so relaxing is that the player cannot die, and the difficulty scales to match the players' skill. Without the threat of a game over, players can simply sit back and take their minds off things in this oddly satisfying game.

4 Cozy Grove

Metascore: 71

Released in April 2021, Cozy Grove has been compared to Animal Crossing in terms of being a life simulator that is synced to real-world time. Players take the role of a Spirit Scout and get to explore woods, help local ghosts, and craft decorations.

Steam reviews call the game cute and relaxing. Some find it too repetitive for their liking, but folks who love Animal Crossing tend to be fans of this title as well. Players get between one and two hours of gameplay per day. It can be a daily relaxing ritual to visit the game and spend some time with the animals and spirits.

5 ABZU

Metascore: 78

ABZU was released in 2016 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and later for the Nintendo Switch and Amazon Luna in 2018 and 2020. Many critics compared it to Journey — which is unsurprising, considering it was made by several people who did work on the latter.

In ABZU, the player takes on the role of a diver as they explore the ocean. The various areas have collectibles the player can seek out and the diver can interact with the sea life using sonar chimes. Sometimes, the diver can even ride on the larger marine mammals as they explore the sea.

6 Kingdom: Classic

Steam User Rating: 90%

Kingdom: Classic is a cozy 2D sidescroller set in a fantasy medieval world that is procedurally generated, like many other great games. Despite being a strategy/resource management game, these aspects are not too complex, making it the perfect game to relax to while still engaging the brain.

The lush pixel graphics of Kingdom: Classic are surprisingly beautiful, allowing players to lose themselves in the world that they traverse as a king or queen atop a trusty steed.

7 Minecraft

Metascore: 82

The Swedish video game Minecraft is among the most well-known titles out there. It is a bestseller and has been beloved by players of all ages. In this simulation game, the player can explore an infinite world, collect materials, and build with them.

The game can be less relaxing depending on the mode the player chooses. Certain modes are focused on survival, having the player fight mobs and/or compete against other players. It all depends on what the player is in the mood for, and if they are looking for a relaxing experience, this isn't hard to come by.

8 A Short Hike

Metascore: 88

Released in 2019, A Short Hike is exactly what it says on the tin. Its gameplay is purely about exploration, and players can complete the game in just a couple of hours at most. Perhaps the only surprise given its title is the fact that the main character is a bird. While it's not long or difficult to play, most Steam reviews call the game a mellow masterpiece.

Key game features include finding treasure, swimming, fishing, and talking to other hiker NPCs. Players are encouraged to play at a slow pace, as the straightforward route to the summit is not necessarily the path players have to go. It is a title that is best for a relaxing afternoon at home.

9 No Man's Sky

Metascore: 71

No Man's Sky had a poor launch, but has improved and expanded over time to the point that it redeemed itself. Players of the game can focus their playstyles on exploration, survival, trading, or combat. The player has a lot of freedom to make the game as relaxing as possible for themselves.

The most relaxing playstyles are those of a trader and/or explorer. The game is endless, so some players invest thousands upon thousands of hours into its content. As the game is procedurally generated, with a mind-boggling 18 quintillion planets, players might enjoy a relaxing space journey into the unknown. Upon landing, they can take solace in the fact that they are likely the first ever player to discover the planet.

10 Flower

Metascore: 87

Another title from Thatgamecompany, Flower is available on the PS3, PS4, PS Vita, PC, and iOS. In Flower, the player controls the wind as it moves a flower petal. The game is well known for its soundtrack, which corresponds to the rise and fall of the players' actions as they moved the petal.

The six main levels of the game can be completed in just one hour. It has no speech or text. Many have called Flower a must-play, as it is one of those titles that is a piece of art as well as a game.

11 Journey

Metascore: 92

Journey is another title from Thatgamecompany, and is arguably their best game. The player takes on the role of a human-like creature that seeks to get to the top of a mysterious mountain by gliding over endless desert sands. Part of the magic is the online multiplayer, which limits players to interacting with simple squeaks and the ability to help charge one another's scarves.

The game was released in 2012, and still has players wandering around to this day who are happy to see one another as they enjoy the complete interactive experience. It takes only a couple of hours to beat, making it perfect for a relaxing afternoon.

12 Stardew Valley

Metascore: 89

Stardew Valley is a farming simulation game that was heavily inspired by Harvest Moon games. It was originally released for the PC in 2016, but was eventually released also for the Xbox One, PS Vita, PS4, iOS, Android, and Linux. It was made by one man, Eric Barone, within four years, and truly comes across as his labor of love.

The game is all about farming and forming friendly relationships with the villagers. Players can take care of animals and crops while also partaking in mining and fishing. Like Minecraft, the game can get more exciting depending on the gamers' playstyle — but everyone's able to just kick back and relax. Players even get to marry an NPC of their choice and raise a family on the farm.

13 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Metascore: 90

While Animal Crossing: New Horizons is what most people talk about, any title from this Nintendo series is worth checking out as a relaxing video game. Game time follows real time, so there is something new every day for the players to check out. Different shopkeepers appear, different products go on sale, and different seasons offer different bugs and fish to catch for the museum.

The DLC Happy Home Paradise for New Horizons is a game in itself, and some players find it even more relaxing than the base game. The DLC offers players the chance to decorate homes with few limits. Players can also turn to older titles like Animal Crossing: New Leaf or Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer.

14 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Metascore: 97

While any Zelda game is relaxing, even if there are some moments of tense combat, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is arguably the most relaxing entry in the series. In it, players can experience a quieter and cozier Hyrule.

One of the many great things about Breath of the Wild is that players can teleport away from danger at any moment if they aren't currently in the mood for it. They're always free to return to the relaxing and natural exploration for which the game is known.

15 Slime Rancher

Metascore: 81

Released in 2017 for the PC, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Linux, Slime Rancher is a first-person life simulation adventure game. The player takes the role of Beatrix, a slime rancher who moved to a foreign planet and has to explore the new world while also constructing her ranch and raising slimes.

The game is a sandbox experience, meaning it has no clear end. It's comparable to Stardew Valley but with different graphics, no other human characters, and set on a different planet. The setting makes it feel unique, and worth playing for fans of the genre.